Development on Tremerton Street may be in flux

PETER GUINTAAssignment Editor

Published Monday, June 07, 2004

A development of eight single-family homes approved on property at 11 Tremerton St. -- one lot of which contains the remains of an estimated 100 American Indians -- could become 13 condominium villas instead.

Mark Knight, St. Augustine's director of planning and building, said Friday that owner Michael Johnigean of Empire Development Corp., of Ponte Vedra Beach, has requested approval for 13 boat slips at the project, to be called Bonita Bay.

The current application calls for eight slips and houses.

The application for the new number of slips comes up before the Planning and Zoning Board next month, Knight said.

But if Johnigean doesn't build the eight houses, the maximum number of condos he could build is 13 under the Comprehensive Plan.

Last week, he asked the Zoning Board to vacate a tiny, 240-square-foot section of roadway at Tremerton and South streets. He needs that to get a final plat for the project, Knight said.

Johnigean's attorney, George McClure of Rogers Towers, said plans for the site remain "in the air."

The city had offered Johnigean a land swap equal to the value of the lot containing the remains. Under that plan, he would develop the other seven home sites and make the burial area a park for Bonita Bay residents but not the public.

Some neighbors said they didn't oppose vacating that small bit of roadway, but begged the Zoning Board not to grant it until a final development plan was presented.

Donna Duval asked for the application to be tabled.

"Anything that happens on Tremerton Street is not minor to me or the residents there," Duval said. "There are a lot of things to discuss about this development."

Bill Hamilton said making a decision without the benefit of public hearings on the project would be "irresponsible."

Jacob Snyder said the project was "a negative thing" for the neighborhood.

"We were quite shocked and concerned to hear about the changes under consideration," he said.

McClure said that, if the roadway is vacated, it comes under the umbrella of the project and can be regulated.

"The only application that has been approved is the one for eight single-family homes," he said. "The entirely new application for 13 boat slips filed last week was submitted without my knowledge, advice or participation."

McClure said the burial sites were Catholic, not an "indigenous religion" and that Johnigean had modified his plan to build single-family homes "in response to community concerns."

Board member Leanna Freeman said, "That plan is pretty much out the window. I don't think it's prudent to ignore the other information we have."

Of 12 responses received by the city, four were in favor of the project and eight against.

Zoning Board Chairman Matt Baker said any changes to Johnigean's current plan would have to come before the board again. A motion by board member Harvey Sims to table the vacated order for 60 days passed 7-0.

Lots in Bonita Bay run in price from $450,000 to $995,000.

Rumors about the 13 town homes going on the property began to circulate after Johnigean asked city officials for feedback about the idea, he said.

"In return for the density increase, I'll make one section a park for my subdivision," he said. "It was all hearsay, but we're sketching it out now. They would be two-story, 2,500-square-feet each and have two per lot. It will look like single-family houses in there."

Right now, workmen are installing the utility infrastructure. Johnigean said he's willing to put all Tremerton Street utility lines underground and said he plans to hold a meeting with all the neighbors about his plans.

"The city doesn't have to do a land swap," he said. "This benefits everybody."